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GUIDE  MANUAL  TO  THE 
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KENTUCKY 

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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


A  GUIDE  MANUAL 


TO   THK 


MAMMOTH   CAVE 


OF     KENTUCKY. 


BY 

CHARLES   W.    WRIGHT,   M.D., 

PROFESSOR  Or  CHEMISTRY  IX  THE  KENTUCKY  SCHOOL    OT    MEDICRTX, 
PROFESSOR  OF  CHEMISTRY   IX  THE   MEDICAL 
COLLEGE  Or  OHIO. 


LOUISVILLE,   KY.: 
PRINTED  BY  BRADLEY  &  GILBERT. 

1860. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1800,  by 
II.  A.  HUGHES, 

in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Dis- 
trict of  Kentucky. 


p 


ref  ace. 


THK  object  of  the  author  of  this  little  work  is  to  place 
before  the  public,  in  a  popular  style,  the  Chemistry,  Ge- 
ology,  and  Zoology,  of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  together  with 
n  brief  description  of  all  the  rooms,  avenues,  domes, 
rivers,  etc.,  that  are  worth  the  trouble  of  exploring. 

Anything  like  an  accurate  description  of  the  Cave  ha* 
not  been  attempted.  In  fact,  such  an  effort,  from  the 
very  nature  of  the  subject,  would  be  attended  with  failure. 
The  beauty,  sublimity  and  grandeur  of  the  Mammoth 
Cave,  to  be  appreciated,  must  bo  soon.  The  awful,  over- 
powering silence,  the  deep  darkness,  together  with  a 
knowledge  of  the  fact  that  the  time  which  nature  required 
to  build  this  subterranean  region  is  lost  in  the  mists  of 
infinity,  produce  a  combination  of  emotions  which  ar« 
never  experienced  in  the  upper  world. 

The  sole  object  aimed  at,  ha*  been  to  furnish  to  those 
who  have  never  visited  the  Cave,  some  idea  of  its  size 
and  formation,  and  to  those  who  \\i-li  to  explore  it,  u 
guide-manual,  which  will  do  away  with  the  necessity  of 
taking  notes,  and  from  which  they  can  select  those  point*, 
which,  should  their  time  be  limited,  they  are  most  desirous 
of  visiting.  It  must  be  distinctly  borne  in  mind  that  all 
the  points  of  interest  herein  detailed,  can  not  be  seen  in 

461480 


VI  PREFACE. 

a  day.  In  fact,  no  one  can  form  a  correct  idea  of  the 
beauty  and  immensity  of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  who  does 
not  spend  a  week  in  exploring  it,  and  all  of  the  more 
striking  objects  should  be  visited  at  least  twice. 

LOUISVILLE,  Kr.,  March,  1860. 


THE  PBOPBIETOB8. 

MESSRS.  H.  A.  HUGHES  and  L.  J.  PBOCTOE  arc 
the  proprietors  of  the  Mammoth  Cave.  They  are 
high-toned  gentlemen,  whose  courteous  and  polite 
demeanor  to  visitors,  renders  the  Cave  a  popular  place 
of  summer  resort  Their  gentlemanly  assistants 
leave  nothing  undone  that  can  contribute  to  the 
comfort  and  pleasure  of  those  who  visit  the  Cave 
Hotel. 


THE  GUIDES. 

THERE  are  three  guides  at  the  Cave,  viz.:  Mat 
and  Nicholas  Bransford,  (colored,)  and  F.  M.  De- 
Monbrun. 

Mat  is  thirty-seven  years  old,  and  has  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  guide  for  nineteen  years.  He  is 
polite  and  affable,  and  is  particular  about  calling 
attention  to  everything  worthy  of  observation.  The 
aggregate  distance  he  has  traveled  in  the  Cave,  i? 
not  less  than  fifty  thousand  miles. 

(7) 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

Nicholas  is  thirty-five  years  of  age,  aud  has  been 
a  guide  for  seventeen  years,  and  the  distance  which 
he  has  traveled  in  the  Cave,  from  the  fact  that  he 
has  enjoyed  uninterrupted  good  health,  is  not  less 
than  that  accomplished  by  Mat.  He  is  active  and 
polite,  and  takes  great  interest  in  exhibiting  the 
Cave  to  the  best  advantage. 

The  other  guide,  Frank  DeMonbrun,  has  acted  in 
that  capacity  for  twelve  years.  He  is  an  intelligent 
and  accommodating  gentleman,  and  perfectly  familiar 
with  all  parts  of  the  Cave ;  and  his  obliging  and 
courteous  demeanor  to  visitors,  makes  him  an  especial 
favorite  with  the  ladies. 

The  abrupt  manner  in  which  it  is  necessary  for 
the  guides  to  address  visitors  in  dangerous  places, 
must  not  be  confounded  with  insolence,  as  it  is  abso- 
lutely essential  at  many  points. 

Stephen,  who  had  been  a  guide  two  years  longer 
than  Mat,  died  in  July,  1857.  Although  a  great 
deal  has  been  said  and  written  about  him,  from  the 
fact  that  he  was  the  favorite  of  the  original  proprie- 
tor, he  was  in  no  respect  superior  to  either  Mat  or 
Nicholas,  nor  was  his  acquaintance  with  the  Cave 
more  thorough  or  extensive. 


THE    CAVE    BAND. 

THE  CAVE  BAND,  by  study  and  long  practice, 
have  adapted  their  music  to  the  different  avenues  of 
the  Cave,  the  effect  of  which,  particularly  on  Ech( 
River,  is  peculiarly  enchanting. 

During  the  winter  season,  the  members  of  the 
Cave  Band  constitute  the  principal  part  of  the 
orchestra  of  the  Louisville  Theater. 


INTRODUCTION'. 


CAVE  COSTUME. 

THE  proper  costume  for  a  gentleman  consists  of  a 
jacket,  heavy  bouts,  and  a  cloth  cap. 

The  Bloomer  or  Turkish  dress  is  the  proper  cos- 
tume for  a  lady.  It  may  be  plain,  or  fancifully 
trimmed,  to  suit  the  wearer.  When  trimmed  in 
lively  colors,  which  is  always  advisable,  the  effect  is 
beautiful,  particularly  if  the  party  be  large.  Flannel 
or  cloth  is  the  proper  material.  It  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  the  temperature  of  the  Cave  is  fifty- 
nine  degrees. 

Every  lady  carries  a  lamp,  and  in  no  case,  except 
that  of  illness,  should  she  take  a  gentleman's  arm. 
It  is  fatiguing  to  both  parties,  and  exceedingly  awk- 
ward in  appearance. 


LOCATION. 

THE  MAMMOTU  CAVE  is  situated  in  Edmonson 
county,  Kentucky,  ninety-five  miles  south  of  Louis- 
ville, or  halfway  between  Louisville  and  Nashville; 
and  is  accessible  by  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railroad,  which  passes  within  seven  miles  of  the 
Cave,  at  Bell's  Station,  where  conveyances  are  in 
readiness  to  convey  passengers  to  and  from  the 
Cave. 

The  Cave  Hotel  is  capable  of  accommodating 
between  fuur  and  five  hundred  visitors.  The  rooms 
arc  furnished  in  the  best  style,  and  the  table  is  not 
surpassed  by  that  of  any  hotel  in  the  Union.  At- 
tached to  the  hotel  is  a  magnificent  ball-room,  which 
is  fitted  up  in  the  most  approved  manner. 

The  scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Mammoth  Cave 


10 


INTRODUCTION. 


is  almost  without  a  rival.  Green  River,  with  its 
towering  cliffs,  is  but  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the 
hotel,  and  affords  good  fishing  and  pleasant  boat 
excursions,  which,  together  with  the  magnificent 
grounds,  promenades,  swings,  etc.,  attached  to  the 
hotel,  conspire  to  render  a  visit  peculiarly  attractive. 


A  GUIDE  MANUAL 

TO  THE 

MAMMOTH  CAVE  OF  KENTUCKY. 


CHAPTER    I. 

SECTION  I. 
ENTRANCE    TO    THE    CAVE. 

THE  entrance  to  the  Cave  is  one  hundred  and 
ninety-four  feet  above  Green  River,  and  is  about 
twenty-five  feet  in  hight,  by  about  thirty  in  width, 
over  which  may  be  seen,  at  all  seasons,  a  mist  or  fog, 
which,  when  the  external  air  is  warmer  than  that  of 
the  Cave,  is  produced  by  the  condensation  of  the 
moisture  of  the  former  by  the  reduced  temperature 
of  the  latter.  On  the  contrary,  when  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  external  atmosphere  is  less  than  that  of 
the  Cave,  the  moisture  of  the  air  of  the  latter  is 
condensed  in  a  similar  manner.  When  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  outer  air  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Cave, 
no  fog  or  cloud  is  observable  at  its  mouth. 

The  entrance  to  the  Mammoth  Cave,  at  an  early 
period  of  its  history,  was  situated  about  half  a  mile 
from  its  present  location,  constituting  what  is  now 
called  the  mouth  of  Dickson's  Cave.  This  cave 
terminates  within  a  few  feet  of  the  mouth  of  the 

(11) 


12  MAMMOTH    CAVE. 

Mammoth  Gave,  but  there  i.s  at  present  no  direct 
communication  between  the  two.  The  voice  of  a 
person  at  the  end  of  Dickaon'fl  Cave,  can  be  distinctly 
heard  at  the  entrance  of  Mammoth  Cave. 

The  present  entrance  to  Mammoth  Cave  was 
formed,  and  its  communication  with  Dickson's  Cave 
cut  off  by  the  disintegrating  action  of  the  water  of 
the  spring,  which  discharges  its  contents  from  the 
ceiling,  at  the  mouth  of  the  former,  and  which  caused 
the  Cave  at  this  point  to  fall  in — thus  establishing  a 
new  entrance,  and  shortening  the  length  of  the  Cave 
by  about  a  half  mile.  Dickson's  Cave  differs  little 
in  size  and  appearance  from  Proctor's  Arcade,  in  the 
Mammoth  Cave. 


SECTION  II. 
RESPIKATION  OF  THE  CAVE. 

THE  Mammoth  Cave  breathes  once  a  year.  That 
is  to  say,  in  summer,  or  when  the  temperature  of  the 
external  air  is  above  that  of  the  Cave,  the  current 
sets  from  the  latter  to  the  former.  In  other  words, 
the  Cave  is  the  entire  summer  in  making  an  expira- 
tion. On  the  other  hand,  when  the  order  is  reversed, 
or  the  temperature  of  the  outer  atmosphere  is  below 
59  degrees,  the  Cave  makes  an  inspiration,  or  draws 
in  its  breath,  which  it  accomplishes  during  the 
winter.  The  respiratory  mechanism  of  the  Cave 
ceases  to  operate,  or,  to  carry  out  the  metaphor  —  it 
holds  its  breath — when  the  mercury  in  the  thermom- 
eter stands  at  59  degrees  in  the  outer  air;  which  is 
the  average  temperature  of  all  parts  of  the  Cave, 
winter  and  summer.  Hence  it  is  frequently  observed, 
in  the  spring  and  fall,  that  there  is  no  motion  of  air 
in  either  direction  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cave. 


MAMMOTH    CAVE.  13 

On  entering  the  Cave  for  a  few  hundred  yards,  in 
summer,  when  the  temperature  is  at  or  near  100 
degrees,  the  air  rushes  out  with  such  force  as  fre- 
quently to  extinguish  the  lamps.  Passing  into  the 
Cave  for  about  a  half  mile,  however,  the  motion  of 
air  is  barely  perceptible  at  any  time,  from  the  fact 
that  the  main  avenue  enlarges  so  rapidly  that  it 
plays  the  part  of  a  reservoir,  where  a  current  of  air, 
from  any  direction,  is  speedily  neutralized.  If  a 
current  of  air  blows  from  without,  inward,  and  is 
below  59  degrees,  it  docs  not  pass  wore  than  a 
(juarler  of  a  mile  before  it  is  brought  up  to  that 
point.  Air  above  the  average  temperature  of  the 
Cave,  never  blows  into  it. 

Thus  it  will  be  observed  that  a  change  of  seasons 
is  unknown  in  the  Mammoth  Cave;  and  day  and 
night,  morning  and  evening,  have  no  existence  in 
this  subterranean  world.  In  fact,  there  is  an  eternal 
sameness  here,  the  like  of  which  has  no  parallel. 

In  many  parts  of  the  Cave,  time  itself  is  not  an 
clement  of  change  ;  for  where  there  is  no  variation 
of  temperature,  no  water,  and  no  light,  the  three 
great  forces  of  geological  transformation  cease  to 
operate. 


SECTION   III. 
ATMOSPHERE  OF  THE  CAVE. 

TIIK  proportions  of  oxygen  and  nitrogen  bear  the 
game  relation  to  each  other  in  the  Mammoth  Cave 
that  they  do  in  the  external  air.  The  proportion  of 
carbonic  acid  gas  is  less  than  that  observed  in  the 
atmosphere  of  the  Bar  rounding  country,  upon  au 
average  of  many  observations.  In  the  dry  parts  of 
the  Cave  the  proportion  is  about  2  to  10,0i>0  of  air; 


14  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

in  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers,  something  less.  Not  a 
trace  of  ammonia  can  be  detected  in  those  parts  of 
the  cave  not  commonly  visited.  The  amount  of  the 
vapor  of  water  varies.  Thus,  in  those  avenues  at  a 
great  distance  from  the  rivers,  upon  the  walls  and 
floors  of  which  there  is  a  deposit  of  nitrate  of  lime, 
the  air  is  almost  entirely  destitute  of  moisture,  from 
the  hygroscopic  properties  of  that  salt,  and  animal 
matter  mummifies  instead  of  suffering  putrefactive 
decomposition.  And  for  the  same  reason,  no  matter 
what  state  of  division  the  disintegrated  rock  may 
attain,  dust  never  rises.  In  portions  of  the  Cave 
remote  from  the  localities  in  which  the  bats  hyber- 
nate,  no  organic  matter  can  be  recognized  by  the 
most  delicate  tests.  Not  a  trace  of  ozone  can  be 
detected  by  the  most  sensitive  reagents. 

From  what  has  been  stated,  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  atmosphere  of  the  Mammoth  Cave  is  freer 
from  those  substances  which  are  calculated  to  exert 
a  depressing  and  septic  influence  on  the  animal 
economy  than  that  of  any  other  locality  of  the 
globe.  This  great  difference  is  observed  by  every 
one  on  leaving  the  Cave,  after  having  remained  in  it 
for  a  number  of  hours.  In  such  instances,  the 
impurity  of  the  external  air  is  almost  insufferably 
offensive  to  the  sense  of  smell,  and  the  romance  of 
a  "  pure  country  air,"  is  forever  dissipated. 

What  diseases  would  be  benefited,  or  rendered 
worse,  by  resorting  to  the  Mammoth  Cave? 

Consumptives,  at  one  time,  resorted  to  the  Cave, 
and,  as  might  have  been  anticipated,  with  fatal 
results.  Several  of  them  died  there,  and  all  of  them 
soon  after  exposure  to  the  external  air.  One  patient 
did  not  see  the  light  of  the  sun,  for  a  period  of  five 
months.  Short  trips  are  attended  with  advantage, 
but  a  Cave-residence  is  speedily  fatal. 

I  know  of  no  inflammatory  disease  that  is  rendered 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  15 

worse  by  a  resort  to  the  Mammoth  Cave.  On  the 
contrary  short  and  easy  trips  have  been  known  to 
effect  a  cure  in  chronic  dysentery  and  diarrhea, 
where  all  other  measures  had  failed. 

In  all  those  diseases  where  absolute  silence,  and 
the  total  exclusion  of  light  are  indicated,  the  Cave, 
above  all  other  places,  possesses  pre  eminent  ad- 
vantages ;  for  nowhere  else  have  we  these  conditions 
combined.  The  only  condition  in  which  risk  is 
incurred  is  (Turing  the  menstrual  period.  Serious, 
and  even  fatal  results  have  been  the  consequence  of 
inattention  to  this  fact. 

The  temperature  of  the  Mammoth  Cave  is  uni- 
formly fifty-nine  degrees,  winter  and  summer,  which, 
in  connection  with  the  remarkable  purity  of  its 
atmosphere,  will  account  for  the  fact  that  individuals 
are  enabled  to  undergo  such  an  unusual  amount  of 
physical  exertion  in  it.  It  is  not  an  uncommon 
occurrence  for  a  person  in  delicate  health  to  accom- 
plish a  journey  of  twenty  miles  in  the  Cave,  without 
suffering  from  fatigue,  who  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  walk  a  distance  of  three  miles  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth. 


CHAPTER    II. 


HOW  THE  MAMMOTH  CAVE  WAS  FORMED, 

THE  agencies  concerned  in  the  formation  of  the 
Mammoth  Cave,  may  be  divided  into  Chemical  and 
Mechanical. 


SECTION  I. 
CHEMICAL  AGENCIES. 

THERE  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  solvent  action 
of  water  holding  carbonic  acid  in  solution,  was  the 
primary  agency  concerned  in  the  formation  of  the 
Cave.  Thus,  the  limestone,  or  carbonate  of  lime, 
which  constitutes  the  strata  of  rock  through  which 
the  Cave  runs,  is  not  soluble  in  water  until  it  com- 
bines with  an  additional  proportion  of  carbonic  acid, 
by  which  it  is  transformed  into  the  bicarbonate  of 
lime.  In  this  way  the  process  of  excavation  was 
conducted,  until  communications  were  established 
with  running  water,  by  which  the  mechanical  agency 
of  that  fluid  was  made  to  assist  the  chemical.  The 
little  niches  and  recesses  which  are  observed  in 
various  parts  of  the  Cave,  and  which  seem  to  have 
been  chiseled  out  and  polished  by  artificial  means, 
we-re  formed  in  tUis  manner;  for  when  these  points 
are  closely  examined,  a  crevice  will  be  observed  at 
(16) 


MAMMOTH   CAVK.  17 

the  top  or  back  of  them,  through  which  water  issued 
at  the  time  of  their  formation,  but  which  has  been 
partially  closed  by  crystals  of  carbonate  of  lime,  or 
gypsum.  At  the  time  these  niches  were  forming, 
water  flowed  through  the  avenues  in  which  they  are 
found.  Examples  of  the  action  we  have  been 
describing,  may  be  seen  in  Spark's  Avenue,  leading 
to  the  Mammoth  Dome. 

The  grooves  which  are  observed  in  rock  over 
which  water  is,  or  has  been  flowing,  are  also  formed 
by  the  solvent  action  of  water  containing  carbonic 
ucid ;  for  in  all  such  instances,  the  water  has  no 
solid  matter  in  suspension.  Examples  of  this  kind 
of  action  may  be  seen  in  operation  in  Mammoth  and 
Gorin's  Domes;  and  evidences  of  its  former  action 
may  be  observed  in  Lucy's  Dome.  What  are  termed 
the  "pigeon-holes,"  in  the  Main  Cave,  arc  cut  out 
of  the  solid  rock  in  the  same  manner. 

When  water,  holding  the  bicarbonate  of  lime  in 
solution,  drops  slowly  from  the  ceiling,  by  which  it 
is  exposed  to  the  uir  sufficiently  long  to  allow  of  the 
(•.scape  of  one  equivalent  of  carbonic  acid  gas,  the 
lime  is  deposited  in  the  form  of  the  proto-carbonate 
of  lime.  If  the  deposit  occurs  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  accumulation  takes  place  from  above, 
downward,  in  the  form  of  an  icicle,  it  constitutes 
what  is  termed  a  tlalaclitc  ;  but  if  it  accumulate  from 
below,  upward,  it  is  called  a  stalagmite.  Stalactites 
and  stalagmites  frequently  meet  in  the  center,  and 
become  cemented,  by  which  a  column  of  support  is 
formed.  Many  instances  of  this  kind  are  to  bo 
found  in  Gothic  Arcade  and  Fairy  Grotto. 

If  the  limestone  which  forms  the  stalactite  is  per- 
fectly pure,  it  will  be  white  or  semi-transparent;  if 
it  contains  oxyd  of  iron,  it  will  be  of  a  red  or  yel- 
lowish color.  When  a  stalactite  is  black,  it  contains 
2 


18  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

the  black  oxyd  of  iron.  The  stalagmitic  cinders  in 
Vulcan's  Smithy,  and  the  grapes  in  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, are  colored  with  black  oxyd  of  iron. 

Another  agency  which  contributes  in  part  to 
change  the  appearance  of  the  Cave,  is  the  efflores- 
cence of  the  sulphate  of  soda  or  Glauber-salts,  and 
the  crystallization  of  sulphate  of  lime  or  plaster  of 
Paris. 

The  sulphate  of  lime,  which  is  known  under  the 
names  of  gypsum,  plaster  of  Paris,  selenite,  alabas- 
ter, etc.,  exerts  a  much  greater  influence  in  disin- 
tegrating the  rock  than  the  sulphate  of  soda.  The 
avenues  in  which  gypsum  occurs  are  perfectly  dry ; 
differing  in  that  respect  from  those  which  contain 
stalactites.  When  rosettes  of  alabaster  are  formed 
in  the  same  avenue  with  stalactites,  the  water  which 
formed  the  latter,  has  for  ages  ceased  to  flow,  or 
they  are  situated  far  apart,  as  the  former  can  not 
form  in  a  damp  atmosphere.  The  force  exerted  by 
gypsum  in  the  act  of  crystallizing,  is  about  equal  to 
that  of  water  when  freezing,  for  when  it  crystallizes 
between  ledges,  or  strata  of  rock,  they  are  fractured 
in  every  direction,  as  instanced  in  Pensacola  Avenue 
and  Rhoda's  Arcade. 

The  formation  of  niter  is  due,  in  part,  to  the 
decomposition  of  the  remains  of  bats  and  other  ani- 
mals, but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  limestone 
rocks  are  never  entirely  destitute  of  nitrifiable  mat- 
ter. The  nitric  acid  which  enters  into  its  composition 
may,  in  some  measure,  be  derived  from  the  atmos- 
phere. The  kind  of  niter  that  is  found  in  the  Cave 
is  the  nitrate  of  lime,  which,  when  re-acted  upon  by 
the  carbonate  of  potash,  is  transformed  into  nitrate 
of  potash  or  common  saltpeter.  This  was  the  course 
pursued  by  the  saltpeter  miners,  when  that  substance 
was  manufactured  in  the  Cave  in.  1812-14.  The 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  19 

nitrate  of  Hmc  is  found  in  the  dryer  parts  of  the 
Cave,  but  is  not  discoverable  till  the  earth  which 
contains  it  is  lixiviated. 


SECTION  IF. 
MECHANICAL  AGENCIES. 

THE  mechanical  agencies  concerned  in  the  excava- 
tion of  the  Mammoth  Cave  are  trifling  when  com- 
pared to  the  chemical. 

They  are  instanced  in  the  transportation  of  gravel, 
sand,  and  clay,  from  one  part  of  the  Cave  to  another, 
and  in  the  abraded  appearance  presented  by  the  rock 
composing  certain  avenues.  Thus,  it  is  possible  to 
tell  the  direction  which  the  water  ran  in  most  of  the 
avenues,  and  the  rapidity  of  its  motion,  by  observing 
the  points  at  which  gravel,  sand,  and  clay  are  depos- 
ited, and  the  order  in  which  they  come.  For  example, 
the  points  at  which  gravel  is  deposited  indicate  a 
rapid  current;  where  snnd  is  found  the  movement 
was  slower;  and  where  clay  occurs  the  water  was 
almost  or  quite  stationary. 

At  one  time  water  rushed  with  great  force  through 
Fat  M;in's  Misery,  for  in  Great  Relief,  which  is  just 
beyond,  washed  gravel  occurs ;  still  farther  sand  is 
found,  which  is  succeeded  by  clay:  showing  that  the 
current  was  in  the  direction  of  Kcho  River.  Before 
the  mechanical  agency  could  have  exerted  any  appre- 
ciable influence,  the  chemical  must  have  been  in 
operation  thousands  of  apes. 

The  loose  rocks,  that  are  scattered  on  the  floor  of 
many  of  the  avenues,  have  fallen  from  the  walls  and 
ceiling,  but  in  many  instances  the  points  from  which 
they  were  detached  are  indistinct,  from  the  fact  that 


20  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

the  rugged  surface  from  which  they  have  fallen  is 
either  smoothed  by  the  action  of  water,  or  covered 
by  crystals  of  the  carbonate  or  sulphate  of  lime.  In 
those  parts  of  the  Cave  where  no  rocks  have  fallen, 
the  floor  presents  the  appearance  of  the  bed  of  a 
river,  and  is  covered  with  gravel,  sand,  or  clay, 
according  to  the  rapidity  of  the  flow  of  water  at  the 
time  of  the  deposit.  No  rocks  have  fallen  since  the 
discovery  of  the  Cave. 


SECTION  III. 
CONNECTION  BETWEEN  THE  CAVE  AND  GREEN  EIVEE. 

THERE  is  an  interesting  relation  subsisting  between 
Mammoth  Cave  and  Green  River. 

Thus,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  Green  River 
has  cut  out  the  bed  or  channel  through  which  it 
runs,  for  on  ascending  its  banks  on  either  side  for  a 
distance  of  not  less  than  three  hundred  feet,  a  plain 
is  reached,  which  is  not  succeeded  by  a  valley ; 
establishing  conclusively  that  it  has  worn  its  bed  to 
its  present  level  by  the  mechanical  and  chemical 
agency  of  water,  and  that  the  avenues  of  the  Cave 
were  cut  through  with  nearly  equal  pace :  those  near 
the  surface  of  the  earth  being  formed  first,  and  the 
others  in  regular  order  from  above  downward ;  the 
avenues  through  which  Echo  and  Roaring  rivers  run 
being  the  lowest  and  last  formed.  Both  of  these 
rivers  are  on  a  level  with  Green  River,  with  which 
there  is  a  subterraneous  communication.  As  Green 
River  continues  to  deepen  the  valley  through  which 
it  runs,  the  avenues  of  the  Cave  will  continue  to 
descend,  until  the  springs  which  supply  Echo  and 


MAMMOTH  CAVE.  21 

Roaring  rivers  cease  to  flow,  when  the  avenues 
through  which  they  run  will  become  as  dry  as 
Marion's  Avenue,  which  at  an  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  Cave,  contained  the  most  beautiful 
subterranean  river  in  the  world. 


ri- 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE   MAIN   CAVE, 

AFTER  leaving  a  small  archway  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Cave,  the  sides  of  which  are  walled  with  rock, 
which  the  salpeter  manufacturers  obtained  from  the 
floor  at  this  point,  and  which  is  called  the  Narrows, 
the  visitor  enters  the  Main  Cave,  which  is  six  miles 
in  length,  and  which  varies  from  forty  to  one  hun- 
dred feet  in  hight,  and  from  sixty  to  three  hundred 
feet  in  width. 


SECTION  I. 
THE  ROTUNDA. 

THE  Rotunda  is  entered  on  leaving  the  Narrows. 
The  ceiling  is  about  one  hundred  feet  high,  and  its 
greatest  diameter  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet. 

The  floor  is  strewn  with  the  remains  of  vats, 
water-pipes,  and  other  materials  used  by  the  salpeter 
miners,  in  1812.  The  wood  of  which  they  are  made 
shows  no  indications  of  decay. 

To  the  right  of  the  Rotunda,  Audubon's  Avenue 
leads  off  for  about   half  a   mile,  to  a  collection    of 
stalactites.     During  the  winter,  millions  of  bats  hy- 
bernate  in  this  avenue. 
(22) 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  23 

At  the  entrance  of  Audubon's  Avenue,  small  cot- 
tages were  built  fifteen  years  ago,  for  the  residence 
of  persons  afflicted  with  consumption,  under  the  im- 
pression that  they  would  be  benefited  by  a  uniform 
temperature.  The  idea  that  consumptive  patients 
could  be  cured  by  a  residence  in  the  Cave,  must  have 
resulted  from  a  total  misconception  as  to  the  nature 
of  pthisis,  as  it  is  well  known  that  the  absence  of 
light  will  develop  the  scrofulous  diathesis,  and  cause 
a  deposit  of  tubercles  in  the  lungs.  The  truth  of 
this  position  was  established  in  the  cases  of  those 
who  resorted  to  the  Cave  for  relief;  inasmuch  as 
three  of  them  died  there,  and  the  majority  of  those 
who  remained  any  considerable  length  of  time,  died 
within  periods  varying  from  three  days  to  three 
weeks  after  leaving  it.  Those  patients  who  remained 
in  the  Cave  three  or  four  months,  presented  a  fright- 
ful appearance.  The  face  was  entirely  bloodless, 
eyes  sunken,  and  pupils  dilated  to  such  a  degree  that 
the  iris  ceased  to  bo  visible,  so  that,  no  matter  what 
the  original  color  of  the  eye  might  have  been,  it  soon 
appeared  black. 

Although  persons  who  are  affected  with  consump- 
tion arc  rendered  much  worse  by  a  residence  in  the 
Cave,  they  need  not  be  deterred  from  making  bhort 
excursions  in  it,  for  when  not  carried  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  occasion  fatigue,  they  are  always  at- 
tended with  advantage.  Over-excitement  of  the 
brain,  and  incipient  insanity,  would  undoubtedly  be 
benefited  by  a  Cave  residence.  Here  absolute  siKmce 
can  be  obtained,  which  cannot  be  had  anywhere  else, 
and  which  is  the  great  desideratum  in  brain  affections. 
It  is  surprising  how  rapidly  the  night  influence  is 
felt  in  the  Cave,  which  is  indicated  by  pallor  of  the 
checks,  yawning,  and  an  irresistible  tendency  to 
sleep.  Persons  who  first  visit  the  Cave  are  not,  as  a 
general  thing,  thus  affected,  because  of  the  novelty 


24  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

of  their  situation,  aftid  the  many  objects  which  attract 
their  attention.  This  tendency  to  sleep  is  not  due 
to  any  impurity  of  the  atmosphere,  for  the  proportion 
of  carbonic  acid  is  even  less  than  it  is  in  the  outer 
air,  but  is  referable  solely  to  the  complete  silence 
and  total  absence  of  light.  It  is  perhaps  the  only 
place  where  a  person  can  count  the  pulsations  of  his 
own  heart  by  listening  to  its  beat ;  in  fact,  the  pul- 
sations of  the  heart  of  another  person  can  be  counted 
at  a  distance  of  several  feet. 

Thunder  is  never  heard  in  the  Mammoth  Cave,  and 
a  gentleman  who  was  in  it  at  the  time  a  shock  of  an 
earthquake  was  experienced  on  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  did  not  perceive  it. 

The  Rotunda  is  situated  under  the  dining-room  of 
the  Cave  Hotel. 


SECTION  II. 
.^,  METHODIST  CHUECH. 

ON  leaving  the  Rotunda,  and  passing  huge  over- 
hanging cliffs  to  the  left,  which  closely  resemble  the 
cliffs  of  the  Kentucky  River,  after  which  they  are 
named,  the  Methodist  Church  is  entered.  It  is  eighty 
feet  in  diameter,  by  about  forty  in  hight.  Here, 
from  the  gallery  or  pulpit,  which  consists  of  a  ledge 
of  rocks  twenty-five  feet  in  hight,  the  Gospel  was 
expounded  more  than  fifty  years  ago.  The  benches, 
or  logs,  occupy  the  same  position  which  they  did 
when  first  placed  in  the  Church. 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  25 

SECTION  IIL 
GIAHT'S  COFFIN  — AHT-EATEE,  Etc. 

AFTER  leaving  the  Gothic  Galleries,  which  lead  to 
the  Gothic  Avenue,  of  which  we  will  have  occasion 
to  speak  further  on,  the  Grand  Arch  is  entered, 
which  leads  to  the  Giant's  Coffin.  This  arch  is 
about  fifty  feet  high  and  sixty  wide. 

To  the  left  of  the  path  leading  to  the  Giant's 
Coffin,  are  found  two  immense  rocks,  many  tuns  in 
weight,  which  hare  fallen  from  above,  and  are  stand- 
ing in  an  upright  position. 

The  Giant's  Coffin  is  a  huge  rock,  forty  feet  long, 
twenty  wide,  and  eight  in  depth,  and  at  the  point 
from  which  it  is  viewed,  presents  a  striking  resem- 
blance to  a  coffin.  It  has  been  detached  from  the 
side  of  the  avenue  against  which  it  rests.  The 
avenue  at  the  foot  of  the  Giant's  Coffin  leads  into 
the  Deserted  Chamber. 

On  the  ceiling,  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  Giant's 
Coffin,  and  looking  into  the  Deserted  Chamber,  is 
the  figure  of  an  ant-eater.  It  is  composed  of  the 
efflorescence  of  black  gypsum,  and  rests  upon  a  back- 
ground of  white  limestone.  The  resemblance  of  the 
figure  to  the  animal  after  which  it  ia  named,  in  com- 
plete. 

A  short  distance  beyond  the  Giant's  Coffin,  in  the 
Main  Cave,  after  passing  what  is  called  the  Acute 
Angle,  a  group  of  figures  is  observed  on  the  ceiling, 
which  is  termed  the  Giant,  Wife,  and  Child.  These 
figures  arc  in  a  sitting  posture,  and  the  Giant  appears 
to  be  in  the  act  of  passing  the  Child  to  the  Giantess. 
They  are  also  composed  of  black  gypsum,  which 
rests  on  a  white  background. 

Still  further  on.  the  figure  of  a  colossal  mammoth 
may  be  observed  on  the  ceiling. 
o 


20  MAMMOTH    CAVE. 

From  the  Giant's  Coffin  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cave, 
wheel  tracks,  and  the  impression  of  the  feet  of  oxen 
may  be  seen,  which  were  made  nearly  fifty  years  ago. 
The  earth,  at  the  time  these  impressions  were  left, 
was  moist,  as  most  of  it  had  been  lixiviated  in  the 
manufacture  of  saltpeter,  but  at  the  present  time  it 
is  perfectly  dry,  and  almost  of  the  consistency  of 
stone. 

From  the  Acute  Angle  to  the  Star  Chamber,  sev- 
eral stone  cottages,  which  were  formerly  inhabited 
by  consumptives,  are  still  standing. 


SECTION  IV. 
THE  STAB  CHAMBER. 

THE  Star  Chamber  is  situated  in  the  Main  Cave. 
It  is  sixty  feet  in  hight,  seventy  in  width,  and  about 
five  hundred  in  length.  The  ceiling  is  composed  of 
black  gypsum,  and  is  studded  with  innumerable  white 
points,  which,  by  a  dim  light,  present  a  most  strik- 
ing resemblance  to  stars.  These  points,  or  stars,  are 
produced,  in  part,  by  an  efflorescence  of  Glauber's 
salts  beneath  the  black  gypsum,  which  causes  it  to 
scale  off;  and  in  part  by  throwing  stones  against  it, 
by  which  it  is  detached  from  the  white  limestone. 
In  the  far  extremity  of  the  Chamber  a  large  mass 
has  been  separated,  by  which  a  white  surface  is 
exposed,  termed  the  Cornet. 

When  the  guide  takes  the  lamps  and  descends 
behind  a  ledge  of  rocks,  by  which  a  cloud  is  made 
to  pass  slowly  over  the  ceiling,  it  is.  difficult  to  divest 
one's  self  of  the  idea  that  a  storm  is  approaching.  It 
needs  but  the  flash  of  lightning  and  the  roar  of 
thunder  to  make  the  illusion  complete. 


MAMMOTH   CAV«.  27 

After  producing  the  storm  illusion,  the  guide  dip- 
appears  with  the  lamps,  through  a  lower  archway, 
several  hundred  yards  in  length,  leaving  the  visitor 
in  total  darkness,  and  re-appears  at  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  Star  Chamber,  holding  the  lights 
in  advance,  which,  as  he  slowly  elevates  them  from 
the  cavern  from  which  he  rises,  produces  the  illu- 
sion of  the  rising  sun. 

With  the  exception  of  Echo  River,  the  Star 
Chamber  is,  perhaps,  the  moat  attractive  object  in 
the  Cave. 


SECTION  V. 
FLOATING  CLOUD  BOOM. 

THE  Ftoating  Cloud  Room  connects  the  Star 
Chamber  with  Proctor's  Arcade. 

The  clouds  are  produced  by  the  scaling  off  of 
black  gypsum  from  the  ceiling,  by  an  efflorescence  of 
sulphate  of  soda  beneath  it,  by  which  a  white  sur- 
face is  exposed.  They  appear  to  be  drifting  from 
the  Star  Chamber  over  the  Chief  City.  The  Cloud 
Room  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  iu  length,  and  in  bight, 
and  width  corresponds  with  the  Star  Chamber. 


SECTION    VI. 

PROCTOR'S   ARCADE 


Tins  ia  the  most  magnificent  natural  tunnel  in  the 
world.  It  is  a  hundred  feet  in  width,  forty-five  in 
hight,  and  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  length.  Thf 
oeiling  is  smooth,  and  the  wall*  vertical,  and  look 


38  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

as  though  they  had  been  chiseled  out  of  the  solid 
rock.  When  this  tunnel  is  illuminated  with  a  Ben- 
gal light  at  Kinney's  Arena,  which  is  its  western 
terminus,  the  view  is  magnificent  beyond  conception. 

This  arcade  is  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  L.  J.  Proc- 
tor, the  proprietor  of  the  Cave. 

Kinney's  Arena  is  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter 
and  fifty  feet  in  hight.  From  the  ceiling,  in  the 
center  of  the  Arena,  there  projects  a  stick,  three 
feet  in  length  and  two  inches  in  diameter.  It  rest? 
parallel  with  the  ceiling,  and  is  inserted  into  a 
crevice  in  the  rock.  How  it  was  placed  in  its  pres- 
ent position  is  a  difficult  question  to  settle,  inas- 
much as  it  could  not  have  been  inserted  in  the 
position  it  occupies  by  artificial  means. 


SECTION  VII. 
WRIGHT'S  ROTUNDA. 

AFTER  passing  the  S  Bend,  which  has  no  particu- 
lar points  of  attraction,  Wright's  Rotunda  is  entered. 

This  rotunda  is  four  hundred  feet  in  its  shortest 
diameter.  The  ceiling  is  from  ten  to  forty-five  feet 
in  hight,  and  is  perfectly  level,  the  apparent  differ- 
ence in  hight  being  produced  by  the  irregularity  of 
the  floor.  It  is  astonishing  that  the  ceiling  has 
strength  to  sustain  itself,  for  it  is  not  more  than  fifty 
feet  from  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Fortunately  the 
Cave  at  this  point  is  perfectly  dry,  and  no  change 
of  any  kind  is  transpiring  in  it,  otherwise  there 
might  be  some  risk  of  its  falling  in,  as  evidences  of 
such  occurrences  are  to  be  found  in  the  surrounding 
country. 

When  this  immense  area  is  illuminated  at  the  two 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  29 

extremes,  simultaneously,  it  presents  a  most  mag- 
nificent appearance. 

At  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Rotunda,  is  a 
column,  four  feet  in  diameter,  extending  from  the 
floor  to  the  ceiling,  termed  Nicholas'  Monument, 
after  one  of  the  old  guides. 

The  Fox  Avenue  communicates  with  the  Rotunda, 
nnd  S  Bend.  It  is  about  five  hundred  yards  in 
length,  and  is  worth  exploring. 

A  short  distance  beyond  Wright's  Rotunda,  the 
Main  Cave  sends  off  several  avenues  or  branches. 
That  to  the  left  leads  to  the  Black  Chamber,  which 
is  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  wide,  and  twenty  in 
hight,  the  walla  and  ceiling  of  which  are  incrusted 
with  black  gypsum.  It  is  the  most  gloomy  room  in 
the  Cave. 

There  are  two  avenues  leading  off  to  the  right. 
The  far  one  communicates  with  Fairy  Grotto,  which 
contains  a  most  magnificent  collection  of  stalagmites. 
It  is  a  mile  in  length.  The  other  avenue  communi- 
cates with  Solitary  Cave,  at  the  entrance  of  which 
there  is  a  small  cascade. 


SECTION   VIII. 
THE    CHIEF    CITY. 

THK  Chief  City  is  situated  in  the  Main  Cave  be- 
yond the  Rocky  Pass. 

It  is  about  two  hundred  feet  in  diameter  and  forty 
in  hight.  The  floor  is  covered  at  different  points 
with  piles  of  rock,  which  present  the  appearance  of 
the  ruins  of  an  ancient  city. 

From  the  Chief  City  to  the  end  of  the  Main  Cave, 
a  distance  of  three  mile?,  there  are  several  points  at 


30  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

which  the  appearance  which  this  avenue  presented 
when  filled  with  running  water,  may  be  observed, 
where  the  overhanging  cliffs  closely  resemble  those 
in  the  Pass  of  El  Ghor,  of  recent  formation. 

The  Main  Cave  is  terminated  abruptly  by  rocks 
that  have  fallen  from  above.  It  must  not,  however, 
be  supposed  that  this  is  the  end  of  it,  for  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  it  was  closed  at  this  point  in  the 
same  manner  as  Dickson's  Cave  was  terminated,  and 
that  the  removal  of  the  obstructing  rock  would  open 
a  communication  with  a  cave  of  the  same  size  as  the 
one  we  have  been  attempting  to  describe. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
THE   LONG  ROUTE. 

ON  entering  upon  the  Long  Route,  the  visitor 
leaves  the  Main  Cave  at  the  foot  of  the  Giant's  Cof- 
fin, and  passes  into  the  Deserted  Chamber.  The 
distaace  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cave  to  the  Mael- 
strom, which  is  situated  at  the  end  of  the  Long 
Route,  is  nine  miles.  The  trip  is  generally  accom- 
plished in  about  twelve  hours. 


SECTION  I. 

THE  DESERTED  CHAMBER. 

THE  Deserted  Chamber  is  the  point  at  which  the 
water  left  the  Main  Cave  to  reach  Echo  River,  after 
it  had  ceased  to  flow  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  former 
into  Green  River.  In  other  respects  it  is  not  of  par- 
ticular interest. 


SECTION  II. 
WOODEN   BOWL  CAVE. 

THE  Wooden  Bowl  Cave  is  next  in  order.  It  re- 
ceives its  name  from  the  fact  that  a  wooden  bowl, 
such  as  was  used  by  the  Indians  in  early  times  was 

(81) 


32  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

found  in  it  when  it  was  first  discovered.     The  Cave 
itself  is  the  shape  of  an  inverted  wooden  bowl. 

Black-Snake  Avenue,  which  enters  the  Main  Cave 
near  the  stone  cottages,  communicates  with  Wooden 
Bowl  Cave.  It  receives  its  name  from  its  serpentine 
course,  and  black  walls. 


SECTION  III. 
MARTHA'S    PALACE. 

MARTHA'S  PALACE  is  entered  by  passing  a  steep 
declivity  and  pair  of  steps,  called  the  Steeps  of  Time. 
The  Palace  is  about  forty  feet  in  hight  and  sixty  in 
diameter.  It  is  not  particularly  attractive. 

A  short  distance  beyond  Martha's  Palace  is  a 
spring  of  clear,  potable  water. 


SECTION  IV. 
SIDE-SADDLE  PIT  AND  MINERVA'S  DOME. 

THE  Side-Saddle  Pit,  over  which  there  rests  a 
dome  sixty  feet  in  hight,  is  reached  by  passing 
through  what  is  called  the  Arched  Way,  the  walls, 
floor,  and  ceiling  of  which  bear  evidence  that  it  was 
once  the  channel  of  running  water.  This  pit  is 
ninety  feet  deep,  and  at  its  widest  part  about  twenty 
feet  across. 

Minerva's  Dome  is  situated  about  twenty  feet  tr 
the  left  of  the  Side-Saddle  Pit.  It  is  fifty  feet  in 
hight  and  ten  in  width.  It  is  a  miniature  repre- 
sentation of  Grorin's  Dome.  The  Dome  and  Pit  have 
been  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock  by  the  solvent  action 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  33 

of  water  containing  carbonic  acid  in  solution.     They 
are  still  enlarging. 

The  aperture  leading  to  the  Pit  presents  the  out- 
lines of  a  side-saddle,  hence  the  name. 


SECTION  V. 
BOTTOMLESS  PIT  AND   SHELBY'S  DOME. 

TIIE  Bottomless  Pit,  paradoxical  as  the  statement 
may  appear,  is  but  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet 
deep.  Its  width  varies  from,  fifteen  to  twenty  feet. 
A  substantial  woodeu  bridge,  termed  the  Bridge  of 
Sighs,  is  thrown  across  it,  from  which  it  may  be 
viewed  in  safety. 

Shelby's  Dome,  which  is  sixty  feet  in  hight,  rests 
directly  over  the  Bottomless  Pit.  The  Pit  and  Dome 
have  been  formed,  and  are  still  enlarging  by  the 
same  causes  that  excavated  the  Side-Saddle  Pit. 


SECTION  VI. 
BEVELEBS'    HALL. 

Ox  leaving  the  Bottomless  Pit,  a  room  is  entered, 
which  is  about  twenty  feet  in  hight  and  forty  in 
•liameter.  Here  it  is  the  custom  of  visitors  to  rest 
for  a  short  time,  and  discuss  the  terrors  of  the  Pit. 
This  is  generally  followed  by  the  bringing  forth  of 
the  potables,  when  the  health  and  safety  of  all  par- 
ties are  duly  swallowed. 


34  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

'  'ill.        •  liv'llilK''"  ill    i'"4i   •jiiloJ'Jf.-i  "jniiJJ^fii          '     •      ' 

SECTION  VII. 
THE  SCOTCHMAN'S  TRAP. 

AFTER  passing  through  a  low  archway,  about  four 
feet  in  hight,  termed  the  Valley  of  Humility,  the 
ceiling  of  which  is  smooth  and  white,  and  appears 
as  though  it  had  been  plastered,  the  Scotchman's 
Trap  is  entered.  The  Trap  is  a  circular  opening, 
through  which  it  is  necessary  to  descend,  about  five 
feet  in  diameter,  over  which  is  suspended  a  huge 
rock,  which,  if  it  were  to  fall,  would  completely  close 
the  avenue  leading  to  Echo  River.  If,  however,  this 
opening  were  to  close,  there  are  three  ways  by  which 
an  escape  might  be  effected.  Thus :  there  is  an 
avenue  beyond  it,  which  enters  the  bottom  of  the 
Bottomless  Pit,  from  which  a  person  might  be  drawn 
by  means  of  ropes ;  another  means  of  escape  would 
be  by  Bunyan's  Way,  which  leads  into  Pensacola 
Avenue ;  and  a  third  by  Spark's  Avenue  and  Mam- 
moth Dome. 

A  short  distance  beyond  the  Scotchman's  Trap, 
in  what  is  termed  the  Lower  Branch,  there  occurs  a 
curiously  shaped  rock,  named  the  Shanghai  Chicken, 
from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  that  animal. 


SECTION  VIII. 
FAT  MAN'S  MISERY  AND  GREAT  RELIEF. 

FAT  MAN'S  MISERY  is  a  narrow,  tortuous  avenue, 
fifty  yards  in  length,  which  has  been  cut  out  of  the 
solid  rock  by  the  mechanical  action  of  the  water. 
The  lower  part  of  the  avenue  varies  in  width  from  a 
foot  and  a  half  to  three  feet,  and  the  upper  part  from 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  35 

four  to  ten  feet.  In  bight  it  varies  from  four  to 
eight  feet 

Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  there  never 
was  a  man  too  large  to  pass  through  Fat  Man's 
Misery. 

Great  Relief,  which  is  entered  on  leaving  Fat 
Man's  Misery,  varies  in  width  from  forty  to  sixty 
feet,  and  in  hight  from  five  to  twenty  feet.  From 
the  ceiling,  immense  nodules  of  ferruginous  lime- 
stone project. 

On  the  floor  of  Great  Relief,  the  direction  of  the 
current  of  water  that  filled  these  avenues  can  he 
traced.  Thus,  at  the  side  next  Fat  Man's  Misery,  it 
is  strewn  with  gravel,  near  the  center  sand  occurs, 
and  still  further  on  mud  is  deposited ;  demonstrat- 
ing the  fact  that  it  flowed  into  Echo  River. 

The  avenue  termed  Bunyan's  Way,  passes  directly 
over  Great  Relief,  and  enters  it  a  short  distance  from 
Fat  Man's  Misery,  by  which  communication  is  estab- 
lished with  Peusacola  Avenue. 


SECTION   IX 
RIVER  HALL  AND   BACON   CHAMBER. 

RIVER  HALL  extends  from  Great  Relief  to  the 
River  Styx.  It  varies  in  width  from  forty  to  sixty 
feet. 

The  Bacon  Chamber  is  situated  to  the  right  of 
River  Hall.  It  receives  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
small  masses  of  rock  project  from  the  ceiling,  which 
in  size  and  appearance  resemble  bacon  hams.  They 
were  formed  by  the  solvent  action  of  water  charged 
with  carbonic  acid,  when  the  lower  portion  of  them 
rested  against  a  stratum  of  rock  which  has  since 
iwen  detached. 


36  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

The  avenue  which  leads  to  the  Mammoth  Dome 
and  Spark's  Avenue,  takes  its  origin  in  the  Bacon 
Chamber. 


SECTION  X. 
THE    DEAD    SEA. 

ABOUT  forty  feet  below  the  terrace  which  leads  to 
the  Natural  Bridge,  is  a  collection  of  water,  fifteen 
feet  deep,  twenty  wide,  and  fifty  feet  in  length, 
termed  the  Dead  Sea.  It  is  quite  as  gloomy  in 
appearance  as  its  celebrated  namesake. 

When  the  Cave  was  first  discovered,  the  Dead  Sea 
was  passed  on  the  terrace  over  its  left  bank,  which, 
however,  was  attended  with  great  danger. 


SECTION  XI. 
EIVEK  STYX  AND  THE  NATURAL  BRIDGE. 

THE  River  Styx  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
long,  from  fifteen  to  forty  in  width,  and  in  depth 
varies  from  thirty  to  forty  feet.  It  has  a  subter- 
ranean communication  with  other  rivers  of  the  Cave, 
and  when  Green  River  rises  to  a  considerable  hight, 
has  an  open  communication  with  all  of  them. 

The  Natural  Bridge  spans  the  lliver  Styx,  and  is 
about  thirty  feet  above  it.  When  the  far  bank  of 
the  lliver  Styx  is  illuminated  with  a  Bengal  Light, 
the  view  from  the  Natural  Bridge  is  awfully  sublime. 


MAMMOTH   .'AYE.  37 

SECTION  XII. 
LAKE     LETHE. 

LAKE  LETHE  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  long, 
from  ten  to  forty  feet  wide,  and  in  depth  varies  from 
three  to  thirty  feet.  The  ceiling  of  the  avenue  at 
this  point  is  ninety  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
Lake.  Lake  Lethe  extends  in  the  direction  of  the 
avenue,  the  floor  of  which  is  covered  by  it.  Visit- 
ors in  taking  the  Long  Route,  cross  it  in  boats. 


SECTION  XIII. 
THE    GREAT    WALK. 

THE  Great  Walk  extends  from  Lake  Lethe  to  Echo 
River,  a  distance  of  five  hundred  yards.  The  ceil- 
ing is  forty  feet  high,  and  the  rocks  which  compose 
it,  present  a  striking  resemblance  to  cumulous  clouds. 
They  are  composed  of  white  limestone.  The  floor  is 
covered  with  yellow  sand. 

A  rise  of  five  feet  water  in  Echo  River  overflows 
Great  Walk,  and  gives  a  depth  of  water  sufficient  to 
allow  the  boats  to  pass  from  Lake  Lethe  to  Echo 
Kiver.  There  are  times  when  Great  Walk  is  filled 
with  water  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling.  In  fact  it 
is  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  for  the  water  to  rise 
to  a  hight  of  sixty  feet  in  Lake  Lethe,  by  which 
the  iron  railing  on  the  terrace  above  the  Dead  Sea  is 
entirely  submerged.  This  great  rise  of  water  is  pro- 
duced by  a  freshet  in  Green  River. 


4K1480 


38  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

SECTION  XIV. 
ECHO  RIVEE. 

ECHO  RIVER  extends  from  Great  Walk  to  the  com- 
mencement of  Silliman's  Avenue,  a  distance  of  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile. 

The  avenue  at  the  entrance  of  Echo  River,  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  is  about  three  feet  in  hight, 
but  immediately  beyond  that  point,  to  the  end,  aver- 
ages about  fifteen  feet.  It  varies  in  width  from 
twenty  to  two  hundred  feet,  and  in  depth  from  ten 
to  thirty  feet. 

When  there  has  been  no  rise  in  Green  River  for 
several  weeks,  the  water  in  Echo  River  becomes 
remarkably  transparent,  so  much  so  in  fact,  that 
rocks  can  be  seen  ten  and  twenty  feet  below  the 
surface,  and  the  boat  appears  as  though  it  were 
gliding  through  the  air.  The  connection  between 
Echo  and  Green  rivers,  is  near  the  commencement 
of  Silliman's  Avenue.  When  Green  River  is  rising, 
Echo  River  runs  in  the  direction  of  the  Great  Walk  ; 
when  it  is  falling,  the  current  sets  in  the  opposite 
direction.  When  Green  River  is  neither  rising  nor 
falling,  the  water  of  Echo  River  runs  slowly  in  the 
direction  of  Silliman's  Avenue,  and  is  supplied  from 
springs  in  the  Cave.  At  such  times  the  temperature 
of  it  is  59  degrees.  When  the  water  of  Green  River 
flows  into  Echo  River,  at  a  temperature  higher  than 
that  of  the  Cave,  a  fog  is  produced,  which  in  point 
of  density  is  not  inferior  to  that  off  the  banks  of 
Newfoundland.  Inexperienced  persons  have^been 
lost  in  the  fog  on  Echo  River. 

A  rise  of  three  feet  water  in  Echo  River  will  close 
the  avenue  through  which  it  runs  near  its  entrance, 
which,  however,  does  not  cut  off  all  communication 
beyond  it,  as  there  is  a  small  avenue,  called  Purga- 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  39 

lory,  commencing  at  the  end  of  Great  Walk,  and 
terminating  in  the  avenue  of  Echo  River,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  landing  in  Silliman's 
Avenue.  A  rise  of  eighteen  feet  water,  however, 
fills  the  avenue  of  Purgatory,  and  cuts  off  all  com- 
munication with  the  outer  world. 

Among  the  great  curiosities  of  the  Cave  may  be 
mentioned  the  eyeless  fish  and  crawfish  of  Echo 
River. 

The  fish  are  a  peculiar  species,  and  are  viviparous, 
or  give  birth  to  their  young  alive,  and  do  not  deposit 
eggs,  after  the  manner  of  most  other  fish.  They 
have  rudiments  of  eyes,  but  no  optic  nerve,  and  arc 
therefore  incapable  of  being  affected  by  the  most 
intense  light.  The  eyeless  crawfish  give  birth  to 
their  young  in  the  same  manner  as  those  provided 
with  eyes.  Both  the  fish  and  crawfish  are  perfectly 
white. 

Ordinary  fish  and  crawfish  are  sometimes  washed 
into  the  Cave  from  Green  River.  Frogs  are  also 
Koraetimcs  washed  into  Echo  River,  and  may  be  heard 
croaking  to  the  echo  of  their  own  voices. 

The  eyeless  fish  prey  upon  each  other.  In  shape 
they  resemble  the  common  catfish,  but  rarely  exceed 
eight  inches  in  length. 


SECTION  XV. 

SILLIMAN'S   AVENUE 


SILLIMAN'S  AVENUK  is  a  mile  and  a  half  long,  and 
extends  from  Echo  River  to  the  pass  of  El  Ghor. 
It  varies  in  hight  from  twenty  to  forty  feet,  and  in 
width,  from  twenty  to  two  hundred  feet.  The  walls 
and  ceiling  of  this  avenue  are  rugged  and  water 


40  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

worn.     It   is    undoubtedly  of  recent   formation,  as 
compared  to  the  other  parts  of  the  Cave. 

The  objects  of  interest  in  Silliman's  AvenuCj  come 
in  the  following  order : 

1.  Cascade  Hall  is  two  hundred  feet  in  diameter, 
and   twenty  feet    high.      It  receives  its   name  from 
a  small  cascade  that  falls   into  it   from  the  ceiling. 
The  avenue  which  leads  to  Roaring  River,  takes  its 
origin  in  Cascade  Hall. 

2.  Dripping  Spring  is  a  pool  of  water  that  is  sup- 
plied from  the  ceiling.     Stalactites  and  stalagmites 
are  found  at  this  point. 

3.  The  Infernal  Region  receives  its  name  from  the 
fact  that   the  floor  is  composed  of  wet  clay,  and  is 
exceedingly    irregular.     It   is  almost  impossible    to 
pass  over  it  without  receiving  a  fall. 

4.  The  Sea  Serpent  is  a  tortuous  crevice  in   the 
rock  over  head,  that  has  been  cut  by  running  water, 
the  layer  of  rock  that  formed  the  floor  of  it  having 
been  detached. 

5.  The   Valley  Way-Side  Cut  is  a  small   avenue 
leading  off  from  Silliman's   Avenue,  and   returning 
into  it  a  short  distance  further  on.     It  presents  sev- 
eral beautiful  points,  and  is  worth  exploring. 

6.  The  Hill  of  Fatigue  is  hard  to  climb,  but  is  not 
otherwise  worthy  of  note.  ' 

7.  The  Great  Western  is  an  immense  rock,  many 
times  larger  than  any  vessel,  the  end  of  which  closely 
resembles  the  stern  of  a  ship.     The  rudder  is  turned 
to  the  starboard  side. 

8.  The    Rabbit    is    a    large    stone    which    closely 
resembles  the  animal  whose  name  it  bears. 

9.  Ole  Bull's  Concert  Room  is  situated  to  the  left 
of  the  avenue.     It  is  thirty  feet  wide,  forty  long,  and 
twenty  high.     When  Ole   Bull   made   his   first  tour 
through  the  United  States,  he  visited  the  Cave,  and 
performed  in  the  room  which  has  received  his  name. 


II  AM  MOTH   CAVK.  41 

10.  Silliman's  Avenue  is  named  in  honor  of  Pro- 
fessor B.  Silliman,  Sen.,  of  Yale  College. 


SECTION   XVI. 
KHODA'S  ARCADE  AND   LUCY'S   DOME. 

RHODA'S  ARCADE,  which  arises  in  Silliman's  Ave- 
nue, a  half  mile  from  the  Pass  El  Ghor,  is  five  hun- 
dred yards  in  length,  and  from  five  to  ten  feet  in 
hight.  The  walls  and  ceiling  are  incrusted  with 
the  crystals  of  gypsum  and  carbonate  of  lime,  of 
preat  brilliancy  and  indescribable  beauty.  The  floor 
is  covered  with  white  crystals  of  limestone,  and  is 
unobstructed  by  fallen  rock.  In  point  of  beauty 
there  is  no  avenue  superior  to  this. 

Lucy's  Dome  is  reached  by  passing  through  Ilho- 
da's  Arcade.  It  is  about  sixty  feet  in  its  greatest 
diameter,  and  over  three  hundred  in  hight,  being 
the  highest  dome  in  the  Cave.  The  sides  appear  to 
be  composed  of  immense  curtains,  extending  from 
the  ceiling  to  the  floor. 


SECTION  XVII. 
TEE   PASS  OF   EL   GHOR 

THK  Pass  of  El  Ghor  resembles  Silli man's  Ave- 
nue, but  the  cliffs  composing  its  walls  present  a  more 
wild  and  rugged  appearance.  It  is  about  two  miles 
in  length. 

The  objects  of  interest  in  this  avenue,  present 
themselves  in  the  following  order : 

1.  The  Hanging  Rocks  look  as  though  they  were 
4 


42  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

on  the  point  of  falling  and  closing  the  avenue  over 
which  they  are  suspended ;  but  no  rock  has  been 
known  to  fall  from  the  walls  or  ceiling  in  any  part 
of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  since  its  discovery. 

2.  The   Fly  Chamber  receives  its  name  from  the 
fact  that  crystals  of  black  gypsum,  of  the  size  of  a 
common  house-fly,  project  from  the  ceiling  in  great 
numbers. 

3.  Table  Rock  is  twenty  feet  long,  and  projects 
from  the  left  side  of  the  avenue  about  ten  feet.     It 
is  about  two  feet  in  thickness. 

4.  The  Crown  is  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  is  situ- 
ated on  the  right  side  of  the  avenue,  about  ten  feet 
from  the  floor.     It  closely  resembles  the  object  after 
which  it  is  named. 

5.  Boone's  Avenue  leads  off  to  the  left.     It  has 
been  explored  for  about  a  mile,  but  nothing  further 
is  known  as  to  its  extent  or  dimensions. 

6.  Corinna's  Dome  rests  directly  over  the  center 
of  the  avenue.     It  is  forty  feet  high  and  nine  wide. 
It  was  formed  by  the  solvent  action  of  water,  which 
entered  it  through   a   fissure   at   the   top,  when  the 
Pass  of  El  Ghor  was  filled  with  water.     Had  it  been 
formed  after  the  water  had  left  the  avenue,   there 
would  have  been  a  pit  beneath  it,  as  shown  at  Shel- 
by's Dome  and  the  Bottomless  Pit. 

7.  The  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta  is  situated  on  the 
left  side  of  the  avenue,  and  is   about   fifteen    feet 
deep.  v 

8.  Stella's  Dome  is  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
hight,  and  in  general  appearance  resembles  Lucy's 
Dome.     It  is  reached   by   passing  through  a  small 
avenue  which  enters  the  left  wall  of  the  Pass  of  El 
Ghor. 

9.  The  Chimes  consist  of  depending  rocks,  which, 
when  struck,  emit  a  musical  sound. 

10.  Wellington's  Gallery  is  not  attractive. 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  43 

11.  Hebe's  Spring  is  about  four  feet  in  diameter, 
and  a  foot  and  a  half  in  depth,  the  water  of  which  is 
charged   with  sulphureted   hydrogen.     Fifteen  years 
ago  there  was  no  sulphur  in  this  spring,  and  at  the 
present  time,  when  it  has  been  undisturbed  for  sev- 
eral hours,  pure  water  may  be  dipped  from  the  sur- 
face, and  sulphur  water  from  the  bottom  ;  indicating 
the  fact  that  it  is  supplied  with  sulphur  water  at  the 
bottom,  and  pure  water  near  the  surface,  which  come 
from  entirely  different  sources. 

12.  Eyeless  crawfish  have  been  found  in  Hebe's 
Spring. 

13.  A  half  mile  beyond  Hebe's  Spring,  the  Pass 
of  El  Ghor  communicates  with  a  body  of  water,  the 
extent  of  which  is  unknown,  called  Mystic  River. 


SECTION  XVIII. 
MARTHA'S     VINEYAED. 

THE  avenue  which  contains  Martha's  Vineyard,  is 
elevated  twenty  feet  above  the  Pass  of  El  Ghor,  and 
is  reached  by  ascending  a  ladder  near  Hebe's  Spring. 

The  walls  and  ceiling  of  Martha's  Vineyard  are 
studded  with  stalactite  nodules  of  carbonate  of  lime, 
which  are  colored  with  black  ozyd  of  iron,  which, 
in  s-izo  and  appearance  resemble  grapes.  A  stalac- 
tite three  inches  in  diameter,  and  extending  from  the 
floor  to  the  ceiling,  is  termed  the  Grape  Vine. 

A  large  stalagmite  projects  from  the  right  wall, 
a  few  inches  from  the  floor,  and  is  termed  tho  Bat- 
tering Ram. 


44  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

SECTION  XIX. 
ELINDO  AVENUE,  AND  THE  HOLY  SEPULCHEK. 

ELINDO  AVENUE  arises  directly  over  the  Pass  of 
El  Ghor.  It  presents  no  points  of  special  interest, 
except  that  the  avenue  which  leads  to  the  Holy  Sep- 
ulchre, which  is  situated  directly  over  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  which  contains  a  fine  collection  of 
stalactites,  arises  in  it. 


SECTION  XX. 
WASHINGTON  HALL  AND   SNOWBALL  BOOM. 

WASHINGTON  HALL  is  sixty  feet  wide,  twenty  high, 
and  one  hundred  in  length.  This  point  is  generally 
reached  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock,  and  is  the 
place  selected  as  the  dining-room.  Cans  of  oil  are 
also  kept  in  this  room,  from  which  the  lamps  are 
replenished.  Although  the  lamps  are  capable  of 
holding  oil  sufficient  to  burn  ten  hours,  the  depots 
for  it  are  so  arranged  that  they  can  be  filled  every 
five  hours. 

Marion's  Avenue,  which  arises  in  Washington 
Hall,  leads  to  Paradise,  Zoe's  Grotto,  and  Portia's 
Parterre.  These  avenues  will  form  the  subject  for 
a  future  chapter. 

The  Snowball  Room  is  situated  between  Wash- 
ington Hall  and  Cleveland's  Cabinet.  The  ceiling 
is  studded  with  white  nodules  of  gypsum,  which  vary 
from  two  to  four  inches  in  diameter.  The  atmos- 
phere of  the  room  is  too  damp  for  the  gypsum  to 
assume  the  forms  of  flowers  and  filaments,  as  it  does 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  45 

in  Cleveland's  Cabinet.     The  resemblance  of  these 
nodules  to  snowballs  is  complete. 


SECTION  XXI. 

CLEVELAND'S   CABINET. 

CLEVELAND'S  CABINET  is  a  mile  and  three  quarters 
long,  sixty  feet  wide,  and  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  in 
hight. 

The  walls  and  ceiling  of  this  avenue  are  literally 
lined  with  alabaster  flowers  of  every  conceivable 
variety,  and  indescribable  beauty. 

On  entering  Cleveland's  Cabinet,  the  objects  of 
special  interest  present  themselves  in  the  following 
order: 

1.  Mary's  Bower  is  fifteen  feet  in  bight,  and  forty 
in  length,  the  walls  and  ceiling  of  which  are  covered 
with  rosettes  of  gypsum. 

2.  The  Cross  consists  of  two  crevices  in  the  ceil- 
ing, which  intersect  each  other  at  right  angles,  and 
which  arc  lined  with  flowers  of  the  plaster  of  Paris. 
It  is  about  eight  feet  in  length. 

3.  The   Mammary   Ceiling    is   formed    of  nipple- 
shaped  projections  of  gypsum. 

4.  The  Lust  Rose  of  Summer  is  about  eight  inches 
in    diameter,  and   is   of  snowy   whiteness.     It  rests 
against  the  ceiling,  in  the  center  of  the  avenue. 

5.  The  Dining  Table  is  fifteen  feot  wide  and  thirty 
long.     It  consists  of  a  flat  rock  that  has  been  de- 
tached from  the  ceiling. 

6.  Bacchus's  Glory  is  an  alcove,  three  feet  in  bight, 
and  five  feet  in  length,  the  whole  interior  of  which 
is  lined  with  nodules  of  gypsum,  which  in  size  aud 


46  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

form  resemble  grapes.     It  is  situated  to  the  left  of 
the  Dining  Table. 

7.  St.  Cecilia's  Grotto  is  remarkable  for  the  size  of 
the  stucco  flowers  found  in  it. 

8.  Diamond  Grotto  is  lined  with  crystals  of  sel- 
enite,  which,  when  a  light  is   waved  to  and   fro  in 
front  of  them,  sparkle  like  the  gem  after  which  the 
grotto  is  named. 

9.  Charlotte's  Grotto  is  the  terminus  of  Cleveland's 
Cabinet.      The  walls  are  covered  with  fibrous  gyp- 
sum. 

10.  Cleveland's  Cabinet  is  named  in  honor  of  Pro- 
fessor Cleveland,  the  distinguished  mineralogist. 


SECTION  XXII. 
ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  AND  DISMAL  HOLLOW. 

THE  Eocky  Mountain  is  one  hundred  feet  high, 
and  is  formed  entirely  of  rocks  that  have  fallen  from 
above.  On  the  top  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  there  is 
a  stalagmite,  two  feet  high,  and  six  inches  in  diam- 
eter, termed  Cleopatra's  Needle. 

On  the  far  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  is  a  gorge 
seventy  feet  deep,  and ^ one  hundred  wide,  termed 
Dismal  Hollow. 

The  Cave,  at  the  Mountain,  divides  into  three 
branches.  That  to  the  right  leads  to  Sandstone 
Dome,  which  is  interesting  from  the  fact  that  the 
stone  of  which  it  is  composed  indicates  that  the  top 
of  the  Dome  is  very  near  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
The  branch  to  the  left  communicates  with  Groghan's 
Hall.  The  central  one  is  termed  Franklin  Avenue, 
and  extends  from  Dismal  Hollow  to  Serena's  Arbor. 


MAMMOTH  GAVE.  47 

SECTION  XXIIL 
FRANKLIN  AVENUE  AND   SERENA'S   ARBOR. 

FRANKLIN'S  AVENUE,  as  before  stated,  extends 
from  Dismal  Hollow  to  Serena's  Arbor,  a  distance  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile.  It  varies  in  length  from  thirty 
to  sixty  feet.  It  has  a  wild  and  gloomy  appearance. 

Serena's  Arbor  is  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and 
about  forty  in  night.  The  walls  and  ceiling  are 
covered  with  stalactitio  cornices,  columns,  grooves, 
ogees,  etc.,  many  of  which  are  semi-transparent  and 
sonorous. 


SECTION   XXIV. 
GROOHAN'S  HALL  AND  THE  MAELSTROM. 

GROOHAN'S  HALL,  which  constitutes  the  end  of  the 
Long  Route,  is  about  seventy  feet  wide  and  twenty 
high.  The  left  wall  is  covered  with  stalactitic  for- 
mations, which  are  white  and  semi-transparent,  and 
of  great  hardness,  fragments  of  which  are  worked 
into  ornaments. 

The  Maelstrom  is  a  pit,  which  is  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  feet  deep  and  twenty  wide.  There  are 
avenues  leading  from  the  bottom,  which  may  be  seen 
when  a  light  is  lowered  into  it,  but  which  have  been 
imperfectly  explored. 

A  peculiar  kind  of  rat  is  sometimes  found  in  Grog- 
han's  Hall,  as  well  as  other  parts  of  the  Cave,  which 
is  a  size  larger  than  the  Norway  rat.  The  head  and 
eyes  resemble  those  of  the  rabbit,  and  the  hair  of 
the  back  is  like  that  of  the  gray  squirrel,  but  that 
of  the  legs  and  abdomen  is  white.  Cave  crickets 
and  lizards  are  also  found  there. 


48  MAMMOTH   CAVE. 

The  Cave  crickets  are  about  an  inch  long.  The 
body  is  yellow,  striped  with  black.  They  are  pro- 
vided with  large  eyes,  but  seem  to  direct  their  course 
mainly  by  their  antennas  or  feelers,  which  are  enor- 
mously developed.  They  are  sluggish  in  their  move- 
ments, and,  unlike  other  crickets,  observe  an  eternal 
silence. 

The  Cave  lizards  vary  in  length  from  three  to  five 
inches.  The  eye  is  large  and  prominent.  The  body 
is  yellow  and  dotted  with  black  spots,  and  is  semi- 
transparent.  They  are  sluggish  in  their  movements. 

The  abundance  of  animal  life  at  this  point  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  there  is  a  communication  with 
the  surface  of  the  earth  at  no  great  distance. 

Bats  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  Cave. 


CHAPTER  V. 
GOTHIC  ARCADE, 

TOE  Gothic  Arcade  is  entered  from  the  Main  Cave 
by  ascending  a  flight  of  steps,  fifteen  feet  in  hight, 
to  the  right  of  the  Gothic  Galleries.  The  objects 
worthy  of  note  are  the  following : 

1.  The  Seat  of  the  Mummy  consists  of  a  niche  in 
the  left  wall  of  the  avenue,  about  forty  yards  from 
the  steps,  just  large  enough  for  a  human  being  to 
sit  in.  The  body  found  in  this  niche  was  that  of  a 
female  Indian,  dressed  in  the  skins  of  wild  animals, 
and  ornamented  with  the  trinkets  usually  worn  by 
the  aborigines.  A  few  feet  distant,  the  body  of  an 
Indian  child,  attired  in  a  similar  manner,  was  dis- 
covered in  a  sitting  posture,  resting  against  the  wall. 
They  were  both  in  a  state  of  perfect  preservation. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  but  they  wandered  into  this 
avenue,  and  becoming  bewildered,  sat  down  and  died 
in  the  position  in  which  they  were  found. 

A  person  lost  in  the  Mammoth  Cave,  without  any 
hope  of  escape,  would  undoubtedly  die  in  a  very 
short  time.  That  this  is  the  case,  the  history  of 
those  who  have  been  lost  in  it  would  seem  to  prove. 

Thus,  on  one  occasion  a  gentleman  wandered  from 
his  party,  when  by  some  accident  his  lamp  was  ex- 
tinguished. In  endeavoring  to  make  his  escape,  ho 
became  alarmed,  aud  finally  insane,  and  crawling  be- 
5  (49) 


50  MAMMOTH   CA\E. 

hind  a  large  rock,  remained  in  that  position  for  forty- 
eight  hours;  and  although  the  guides  repeatedly 
passed  the  rock  behind  which  he  was  secreted,  in 
search  for  him,  he  did  not  make  the  slightest  noise, 
and  when  finally  discovered,  endeavored  to  make  his 
escape  from  them,  but  was  too  much  exhausted  to 
run. 

In  another  instance  a  lady  allowed  her  party  to 
get  so  far  in  advance  that  their  voices  could  no 
longer  be  heard,  and  in  attDmpting  to  overtake  them, 
fell  and  extinguished  her  lamp,  when  she  became  so 
terrified  at  her  situation  that  she  swooned,  and  when 
dii-covered  a  few  minutes  afterward,  and  restored, 
was  found  to  be  in  a  state  of  insanity,  from  which 
she  did  not  recover  for  a  number  of  years. 

Not  a  year  passes  but  the  guides  have  to  go  in 
search  of  persons  who  have  been  foolhardy  enough 
to  leave  their  party,  and  who  in  every  instance  be- 
come speedily  bewildered,  and  when  discovered  are 
in  the  act  of  crying,  or  at  prayer.  In  such  cases  the 
guides  are  overpowered  with  kisses,  embraces,  and 
other  demonstrations  of  gratitude. 

The  proper  course  for  persons  to  pursue  when  lost 
in  the  Cave,  is  for  them  to  remain  in  the  place 
where  they  first  became  confused,  and  not  to  stir 
from  it  until  rescued  by  the  guides.  They  will  not 
have  to  wait  more  than  from  three  to  ten  hours  from 
the  time  at  which  they  should  have  returned  to  the 
Hotel. 

2.  A  short  distance  from  the  Seat  of  the  Mummy 
is  a  large  stalactite  which  extends  from  the  floor  to 
the  ceiling,  termed   the  Post  Oak,   from  its  fancied 
resemblance  to  a  variety  of  oak-tree  that  grows  near 
the  Cave. 

3.  The  First  Echo  is  the  name  given  to  that  part 
of  Gothic  Arcade  which  passes  over  Pensacola  Ave- 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  5t 

nue,  the  floor  of  which,  when  forcibly  struck,  emits  a 
hollow  sound. 

4.  The 'Register   Room   is   about   three    hundred 
feet  long,  forty  wide,  and  from  eight  to  sixteen  in 
hight.     The    ceiling    is    white,    and    as    smooth    as 
though  it  had   been   plastered.     In  this  room   hun- 
dreds of  persons  have  displayed  their  bankruptcy  in 
everything  pertaining  to  good  breeding  and  taste  by 
tracing  their  obscure  names  on  the  ceiling  with  the 
smoke  of  a  candle. 

5.  Gothic  Chapel  is  a  large  room,  the  ceiling  of 
which  appears  to  be  supported  by  gigantic  stalactites, 
which  extend  to  the  floor.     When  a  number  of  lamps 
are  hung  upon  these  columns,  this  room  presents  u 
beautiful  appearance. 

6.  Vulcan's  Smithy  is  a  room  the  floor  of  which  is 
strewn  with  stalagmitic  nodules,  colored  with  black 
oxyd  of  iron,  which  resemble  the  cinders  of  a  black- 
smith's shop. 

7.  Bonaparte's  Breastworks  consist  of  a  ledge  of 
rocks  that  have  been  detached  from  the  side^of  the 
avenue  against  which  they  rest. 

8.  The  Arm  Chair  is  formed  by  the  union  of  sta- 
lagmites and  stalactites. 

9.  The    Elephant's    Head    is    a    large    stalagmite 
which  projects  from  the  left  wall  of  the  avenue. 

10.  The  Lover's  Leap  consists   of  a  rock   which 
projects  about  sixteen  feet  over  a  pit  which  is  sev- 
enty feet  deep. 

11.  Elbow  Crevice  is  fifty  feet  in  hight,  from  three 
to  five  in  width,  and  twenty  in  length.     It  is  another 
Fat  Man's  Misery,  on  an  enlarged  scale. 

12.  Gatewood's  Dining  Table  is  a  flat  rock  which 
has   been    detached    from    the   ceiling.     It    is    about 
twelve  feet  long  and  eight  wide,  and  is  named  after 
one  of  the  saltpeter  miners. 


52 


MAMMOTH   CAVE. 


13.  Napoleon's  Dome  is  fifty  feet  high,  and  from 
twenty  to  thirty  wide.     It  was  formed  in  the  same 
manner  as,  and  resembles  Corinna's   Dome,  in  the 
Pass  of  El  Ghor. 

14.  Lake  Purity  is  a  pool  of  perfectly  transparent 
water,  situated  directly  under  Vulcan's  Smithy. 

A  half  mile  beyond  Lake  Purity  the  Gothic  Ar- 
cade terminates  in  a  dome  and  small  cascade. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  LABYRINTH  AND  GORIN'S  DOME, 

THE  Labyrinth  is  entered  from  the  Deserted 
Chamber,  by  descending  a  pair  of  steps.  It  is  a 
narrow,  rugged  causeway,  and  the  only  object  of  in- 
terest in  it,  is  the  figure  of  the  American  Eagle  on 
the  left  wall. 

Gorin's  Dome  is  reached  by  passing  over  a  small 
bridge  and  ascending  a  ladder,  ten  feet  in  hight,  in 
the  labyrinth.  It  is  viewed  from  a  natural  window, 
situated  half  way  between  the  floor  and  the  ceiling 
of  the  Dome.  It  is  about  two  hundred  feet  in  hight, 
and  sixty  feet  across  its  widest  part.  The  far  side 
presents  a  striking  resemblance  to  an  immense  cur- 
tain, which  extends  from  the  ceiling  to  within  forty 
feet  of  the  floor. 

Gorin's  Dome  was  formed  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  Side-Saddle  Pit. 

When  the  far  end  of  the  Dome,  which  is  reached 
by  passing  through  a  small  avenue  to  the  right,  is 
illuminated  by  a  Bengal  light,  the  view  is  terribly 
sublime. 

There  are  avenues  which  communicate  with  the  top 
and  bottom  of  the  Dome.  When  Echo  River  rises, 
the  floor  of  the  Dome  is  covered  with  water,  in  which 
eyeless  fish  are  sometimes  caught. 

Gorin's  Dome  bears  the  name  of  its  discoverer. 

(53) 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PENSACOLA  AVENUE, 

PENSACOLA  AVENUE  is  about  a  mile  in  length, 
from  eight  to  sixty  feet  in  hight,  and  from  thirty  to 
one  hundred  in  width.  It  is  entered  from  Revelers' 
Hall. 

The  following  are  the  subjects  worthy  of  exami- 
nation : 

1.  The  Sea-Turtle  is  about  thirty  feet  in  diameter. 
The  rock  of  which  it  is  composed  has  fallen  from  the 
ceiling. 

2.  The  Wild  Hall  in  size  and  appearance  resem- 
bles Bandit's  Hall.     Bunyan's  Way,  which  commu- 
nicates with  Great  Relief,  enters  Pensacola  Avenue 
at  this  point. 

3.  Snowball  Arched  Way  receives  its  name  from 
the  fact  that  its  ceiling  is  covered  with  nodules  of 
gypsum,  like  those  in  the  Snowball  Room. 

4.  The  Great  Crossing  is  the  point  at  which  four 
avenues  take  their  origin. 

5.  Mat's   Arcade  is   fifty  yards  long,    thirty   feet 
wide,  and  sixty  in  hight. 

Between  the  floor  and  ceiling  there  are  four  beau- 
tiful terraces,  which  extend  the  full  length  of  th( 
Arcade. 

There  is  a  collection  of  beautiful  stalactites,  called 
the  Pine-Apple  Bush,  in  Mat's  Arcade. 
(54) 


MAMMOTH   CAVE. 


56 


6.  The  ceiling  and  walls  of  Angelico  Grotto  are 
incrustcd  with  crystals  of  carbonate  of  lime. 

Pensacola  Avenue  terminates  about  a  half  mile 
beyond  Angelico  Grotto,  in  a  low  archway. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

SPARK'S  AVENUE  AND  MAMMOTH  DOME, 

SPARK'S  AVENUE  extends  from  the  Kiver  Hall  to 
Mammoth  Dome,  a  distance  of  three  quarters  of  a 
mile. 

The  objects  of  interest  in  this  Avenue  are  the  fol- 
lowing: 

1.  Bandit's  Hall  is  sixty  feet  long,  and  forty  wide, 
the  floor  of  which  is  covered  with  large  rocks  that 
have  been  detached  from  the  ceiling. 

To  the  right  of  Bandit's  Hall  is  an  avenue  of 
great  extent,  which  has  not  been  fully  explored, 
called  Brigg's  Avenue. 

2.  Newman's  Spine  is  about  ten  feet  in   length, 
and  consists  of  a  crevice  in  the  center  of  the  ceiling, 
which  is  the  exact  image  of  a  cast  of  a  gigantic  back- 
bone. 

3.  Sylvan  Avenue  extends  from  Spark's  Avenue 
to  Clarissa's  Dome,  and  is  about  three  hundred  yards 
in  length.     This  avenue  contains  a  number  of  ferru- 
ginous limestone  logs,  which  vary  from  five  to  fifteen 
inches   in   diameter.     Some   of  them   appear   to    be 
chopped  in  half;  others  have  lost  a  portion  of  bark, 
displaying   a  white   surface    of  petrous   wood ;    and 
others  again  look  as  though  they  were  in  a  state  of 
partial  decay.     Anywhere  else  these  masses  of  stone 
would  be  taken  for  petrified  wood. 

(56) 


MAMMOTH   CAVE.  57 

Clarissa's  Dome  is  entered  at  its  base.  It  resem- 
bles Gorin's  Dome,  bat  is  much  smaller. 

4.  Bennett's    Point    is    directly   opposite    Sylvan 
Avenue,  where  the  Avenue  turns  at  an  acute  angle 
to  the  right.     The  floor  of  the  Avenue  at  this  point 
is  covered  with  yellow  sand. 

5.  Bishop's  Gorge  is  a  low  and  narrow  part  of  the 
Avenue  which  is  passed  with  difficulty. 

Spark's  Avenue  is  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  C.  A. 
Sparks,  of  New  York. 

The  Mammoth  Dome  is  viewed  from  a  terrace 
about  forty  feet  from  its  base.  It  is  two  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  hight,  and  in  appearance  closely 
resembles  Gorin's  Dome,  but  is  more  than  five  times 
as  large.  At  the  left  extremity  of  the  Dome,  there 
are  five  large  pillars  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock,  called 
the  Corinthian  Columns. 

The  awful  sublimity  of  this  Dome,  when  strongly 
illuminated,  exceeds  anything  ever  pictured  to  a 
mind  frenzied  by  opium  or  hasheesh. 

The  Mammoth  Dome  is  still  enlarging. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

.*.    '  \   • "  -   ^  , 

ROARING   RIVER. 

THE  avenue  which  communicates  with  Roaring 
River  is  entered  at  Cascade  Hall,  and  is  a  half  mile 
in  length.  Roaring  River  resembles  Echo  River  in 
size  and  appearance,  but  has  a  louder  echo.  There 
is  a  cascade  which  falls  into  it,  from  which  proceeds 
roaring  sounds,  and  from  which  it  has  received  its 
name. 

Eyeless  fish  and  Crawfish  are  found  in  Roaring 
River,  as  well  as  sunfish  and  black  crawfish,  both  of 
which  are  provided  with  eyes. 

(58) 


CHAPTER  X. 
MARION'S   AVENUE, 

MARION'S  AVENUE  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  long, 
and  arises  in  Washington  Hall.  It  varies  from  twen- 
ty to  sixty  feet  in  width,  and  from  eight  to  forty  in 
bight.  The  floor  is  covered  with  sand,  and  the  walls 
are  composed  of  white  limestone,  which  resembles 
cumulous  clouds.  The  far  end  of  the  Avenue  di- 
vides into  two  branches,  that  to  the  right  leading 
to  Paradise  and  Portia's  Parterre,  and  that  to  the 
left  to  Zoe's  Grotto. 

The  walls  and  ceiling  of  the  avenue  termed  Para- 
dise, are  covered  with  gypsum  flowers.  There  is  a 
dome  in  Paradise  Avenue,  which  is  composed  of 
sandstone.  It  is  called  Digby's  Dome. 

Portia's  Parterre  is  entered  from  the  left  wall  of 
Paradise  Avenue.  It  is  a  half  mile  in  length,  and 
contains  the  same  kind  of  flowers  that  are  found  in 
Cleveland's  Cabinet.  It  was  discovered  about  two 
years  ago,  and  is  commonly  known  as  the  New  Dis- 
covery. 

(59) 


CHAPTER  XI. 
WHITE'S   CAVE, 

THE  entrance  to  White's  Cave  is  situated  about 
half  a  mile  from  Cave  Hotel,  and  although  it  is  really 
a  part  of  the  Mammoth  Cave,  yet  there  is  no  direct 
communication  between  the  two. 

It  is  remarkable  for  the  beauty  and  variety  of  the 
stalactites  and  stalagmites  that  are  found  in  it,  and 
is  well  worth  exploring. 

White's  Cave  is  about  five  hundred  yards  in  length. 


CONCLUDING   REMARKS, 

THERE  are  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  avenues 
in  the  Mammoth  Cave  that  have  been  explored,  many 
of  which,  however,  are  never  entered  by  visitors,  and 
which,  consequently,  we  have  not  attempted  to  de- 
scribe. The  total  length  of  all  the  avenues  has  been 
estimated  at  one  hundred  miles,  which  probably  falls 
far  short  of  the  actual  distance.  It  must  not  be  sup- 
posed, however,  that  the  Cave  has  been  fully  explored, 
for  there  are  hundreds  of  avenues  that  have  never 
been  entered,  much  less  explored,  many  of  which, 
we  have  every  reason  to  suppose,  are  as  large  as  any 
that  have  been  examined. 
(60) 


RICHERSON  OR  DIAMOND  CAVE, 

THIS  cave  was  discovered  in  1859,  and  is  situated 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  Bell's  Station,  on  the 
Mammoth  Cave  Road.  Visitors  to  the  Mammoth 
Cave,  by  stopping  at  Bell's  Station,  can  have  an 
opportunity  of  visiting  this  Cave  on  their  trips  to 
or  from  the  Mammoth  Cave ;  or,  they  can  at  all 
times  find  conveyances  at  Bell's  Station,  or  the  Mam- 
moth Cave,  to  convey  them  to  Diamond  Cave. 

The  heauties  of  Diamond  Cave  consist  in  its  beau- 
tiful stalactite  formations,  which  are  not  surpassed 
by  those  of  any  other  cave  in  America. 

Visitors  to  Mammoth  Cave,  can  procure  a  Guide 
Book,  descriptive  of  Diamond  Cave,  at  Bell's  Station, 
or  Mammoth  Cave. 

GKORGE  M.  PROCTER. 

(61) 


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